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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Tatyana's Secret Garden

Tatyana writes the blog My Secret Garden which I've read and admired for quite some time. Her garden and photographic skill are exceptional! How exciting it was that her garden was one of the Northwest Perennial Alliance's open gardens and that we'd get to see it in person.

Having been a fan of this garden via the blog, I was prepared for an elegant and structured garden tended by a gardener with impeccable taste. What I didn't know was that both the garden and the gardener are full of playful energy and joy.

As soon as Alison's friend Annette, Alison, and I got out of the car, Tatyana almost ran down the drive to greet us. It was like seeing an old friend. Such is the phenomenon of the garden blogging community.

Tatyana says that she might not have chosen this exact fountain (gorgeous isn't it?) but that someone wanted to get rid of it and she got it for next to nothing. What a great find!

It's difficult to chose a favorite bird bath as all of them in this garden are exquisite!

You never know what you'll find in this enchanted place. Notice how the frog echoes the color and a bit of the texture of the tree bark.

Here's Tatyana being as playful as her garden!

Tatyana, Alison, and Annette posing for the camera. Plant people always seem happiest when they're around plants and/or each other. Am I the only one who is hearing "Three Little Maids From School" from The Mikado?

A fabulous perennial border in the side garden. Swoon!

Another playful denizen of the garden.

While some of us were playing, this busy bee was hard at work on an Eremurus.

Poppy season!

A moment in time.

Back around to the front, this mossy fellow greets us. Another of Tatyana's thrifty finds, he seems to be saying "Don't cry over spilled milk." Of course, he looks like he's pouring it out intentionally. Is this a passive aggressive statue?

We bid a fond farewell to Tatyana and her splendid garden but long will linger in our memories the beauty of the garden and it's creator! Thanks Tatyana for the warm welcome, the personal tour, and for your inspirational blog. I hope you had a great time opening your garden!

A great collection of statuary. I was tickled by the frog playing chess, and the mossy gentleman at the last photo. In the PNW, nothing remains naked for long. I'll have to research Eremurus: I've had mine for a couple of years now but it refuses to bloom.

It's always fun to tour a blogger's garden through the eyes of another blogger and you have given us a wonderful tour from your perspective. The garden is just gorgeous as it always appears on her blog. I love all the classical elements with a touch of humor and especially liked the photos of Tatyana and friends.

How absolutely wonderful. I'd just love to visit that garden sometime. I adore mixing classical elements with plants and whimsical collections. This garden has it all and is arranged with exquisite taste. TFS

My fatsias often produce ripe fruit, but not this year! Our coldest winter in 20 years killed most of the stems to the ground, although they're recovering. The immature fruits overwinter on the plants and ripen in the spring if the winter isn't too cold; in my experience they're killed by temperatures lower than mid-teens.

Peter, it was my pleasure to see you, Alison and Annette that Saturday!Thank you for your nice words about my little amateur garden! I like your pictures! I guess I automatically choose garden spots and views that I like when I take pictures, and it was so interesting to see my garden through someone else's lenses! I spotted several things that I will certainly change!I loved chatting with you, and I think that NPA is doing great things bringing gardeners together!

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Like Loree, I had the pleasure of meeting Tatyana at Dragonfly Nursery during the Seattle Fling. Just as you described, she ran up with a big hug -- so friendly! I love seeing her garden through your lens. And I love imagining what it must be like to live in a place where you can wear sweaters on a summer garden tour!

About Me

Why Outlaw Gardener? I like to break the rules of good taste, plant placement, and plant hardiness. Also, I have received periodic "love notes" from the city code enforcement officer telling me that my parking strip plants encroach on the city's right-of-way. When expressing my distress over the latest such notice, I exclaimed to my pal Loree (Danger Garden) "I'm an outlaw gardener!" To which she replied,"That would be a good name for a blog."
My first gardens were in Southeast Alaska (zone 3.)I do miss the beauty and community of small-town Alaska but I don't take for granted for a moment how wonderful it is to garden in zone 8.